French Polynesia Cruise March 25 – April 5, 2014

Finally we arrive

Not Our Plane!

Our Ship: The Marina

• French Polynesia consists of five archipelagos; Austral, Gambier, Marquesas, Society and Tuamotu

• We visited Tahiti, Moorea, Bora Bora and Raiatea in the Society Islands; Rangiroa and Fakarava in the Tuamotu atolls; and Nuku Hiva in the Marquesas.

• Today’s economy is based on tourism. After the black pearl, the main exports are coconut oil, unworked shells, perfumed soap, vanilla and fish. Monoi is the legendary oil made from soaking Tiare flowers in oil extracted from copra (coconut).

Day 1: Welcome to Moorea

How people originally reached the Islands versus today’s transport. We took the bus!

Copra, Vanilla and the Tahitian Tiare

Mango, Papaya and Breadfruit Trees

Moorea Tour Route

Gauguin Home Replica, Courtyard and Painting

View from Belvedere lookout on Moorea

Mt. Tearai, Moorea

Cook's Bay, Moorea

Cook's Bay, Moorea

Moorea Crystal Clear Lagoon

The Real Bali Hai

Moorea Sunset

Day 2: Beautiful Raiatea

Utoroa Port, Raiatea

Raiatea - Birthplace of Tahitian Religion and Culture

Raiatea Island Tour

Land of Rugged Interiors, Beautiful Beaches and Lagoons

and Sacred Places . . . Like this 1,000-year old Taputapuatea Marae

Marae of Tainuu in Raiatea (where wild chickens wander!)

The Valley Of Tehurui, Raiatea

Mount Temehani, Raiatea

View from Mount Temehani

Faaroa River, Raiatea

Raiatea Church

Next Stop: View of Bora-Bora from Raiatea

Days 3 and 4: Bora Bora Greeted at Every Port

Glass Bottom Boat Cruise and Snorkeling the Aquarium

Crystal Clear Waters with Inset of Bungalows

Fondo Playa - Pricey Digs!

Tahitian Longboat

Cloud-covered Peak in Bora Bora

Day 5: Cruising the Tuamotu Archipelago

View from Ship en route to Nuku Hiva, largest of the Marquesa Islands

Days 6 & 7: Nuku Hiva Bay of Taihoae

Getting to remote Places Snack Hae Kohe

Cathedral Notre Dame inside and out

Mea'e Kamuihei and Temehea Tohua, Ancient ceremonial sites

Interior: A Tropical Wonderland

Vaipo Falls, Nuku Hiva

Taipivai Valley

Taipai Valley

Typee Village where Melville lived

Nuku Hiva Beach

Beach Reflections: Nuku Hiva

Traditional Dance

Performance Onboard

Sunset – Leaving Nuku Hiva

Day 8: Fakarava . . . One Endless Beach

Snorkeling right from the beach

Another view of the Marina in port with inset of private yacht with slide

Day 9: Rangiroa (Huge Sky): the 2nd largest Coral Atoll in world

Pink Sands of Rangiroa

Glass Boat Tour Guide plays Ukulele En Route to Snorkeling the Aquarium

Feeding Frenzy and Nurse Shark Inset:

Snorkeling Rangiroa's Aquarium Garden

Small Islands are called Motus

French Polynesia is known for its famous Black Pearls. We visit the Gauguin Pearl Farm to learn how oysters are grafted, tied, hung and harvested

It takes five Years to get pearls like this

Rangiroa Village and Tip of the Island Inset

Day 10: Tahiti Nui and Tahiti Iti Aerial view

Papeete, Capital of Tahiti

Papeete Port

A Day of Sightseeing with Myra, Lila and Dennis

We toured the northern route of the Monoi Road from Papeete to the Blowholes at Tiarfi

Downtown Papeete Inset of Restaurant where we lunched

Papeete City Market

Papeete City Hall

Notre Dame Cathedral, Mormon Temple and Universite’

Memorial Park at Venus Point: Cook Monument and Lighthouse

The stone wall at Memorial Park displays the five archipelagos

Tahiti Coastline Views

Two Cliff Views

Blowholes at Tiarfi

Papeete Port at Night Departure point for return trip